N.Y. Giants: Big Blue Quarterback Dilemma Nothing New

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

"Torn Between Two Lovers ... 

Feeling Like a Fool"

New York Giants: A Tale of Two Franchise Quarterbacks ...

Once upon a time, a general manager named George Young drafts an unknown quarterback from Morehead St., named Phil Simms.  Then NFL commissioner Pete Rozell even laughs in stunned disbelief as he announces the Giants selection.  Seven years later Simms leads the Giants to their first ever Super Bowl championship.  His own record setting performance earns him MVP honors.  Four years later, Simms and Jeff Hostetler lead them to a second Super Bowl championship.  However, the sudden departure of Bill Parcells hastens the end of the Giants glory days.  Yet, Phil Simms is still able to lead Big Blue to one more playoff victory in 1993 over the Vikings.  After which, the 38-year old Phil Simms is informed his contract would not be renewed by the organization.  His time as quarterback for the New York Giants, and his playing career effectively end right then.  The organization then commits to a full blown rebuild.  Enter Dave Brown, Kent Graham, et al.

Fast forward ...

The Giants trade for Eli Manning in a draft day acquisition.  Guess that makes him somewhat of an adoptive son.  After all, he was Ernie Accorsi's guy all along.  Point is fans embrace him, always have.  He's our blue bleeding Mr. Freeze.  And despite the continuing devolution of the Giants I still trust Eli - deficiencies and all - provided his is afforded safer working conditions.

Four years into his career, he leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII and is named game MVP.  Four years later he again leads the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLVI, and for a second time is named game MVP.  After which, the overall talent level around him begins its precipitous decline.  The Giants glory years are clearly behind them, and it takes another five years before Eli and the Giants would again participate in post-season play. 

Sound familiar?

That was two seasons ago.  The Giants have won just four of their last 23 regular games.  Manning turns 38-years old this coming January, and his replacement is nowhere in sight.  That makes it rather unclear whether Dave Gettleman is leaning towards a full blown rebuild despite this week trading Eli Apple and Snacks.

Here we have a Giant tale in the handling of two franchise quarterbacks.  George Young handled Phil Simms with conviction.  The manner in which Jerry Reese, Dave Gettleman, and John Mara himself have handled Eli Manning's end of years, not so much.  And there's the rub, George Young acted on behalf of Wellington Mara.  I've never been inclined to blame John Mara for much.  But it's time for resistant fans to admit this present mess falls squarely in his lap.  Eli-Gate started with him, not to mention his loyalty to Jerry Reese.

Outside of drafting a quarterback, the only other way of acquiring one of any quality is via the rare trade.  Another way is capitalizing on another team's bad situation as the Giants did with their opportunistic acquisition of Kerry Collins.

If I'm the Giants, I'm paying close attention to the developing situation at Oakland between Derek Carr and the Raiders.  John Gruden is in the midst of trading assets for picks.  In other words, he's gutting the roster, and I couldn't applaud him more.  He's already amassed five first round draft picks.  As such, I feel Carr would be a great acquisition to get the Giants through some rebuilding years.  The Giants should at least be interested, but in no way should they overpay.  They'll also need to find Eli another home first, perhaps reuniting him with Tom Coughlin at Jacksonville.

If John Mara orders Dave Gettleman to gut this once and for all, much of the drama surrounding the Giants will go away.  I say that because more and more over the last two seasons, they've become the Jets, and Knicks, and Mets, as main suppliers of back page fodder.

N.Y. Giants: Eli Manning Poised To Play In Narrative Defining Game

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Dave Gettleman Banking on Eli Manning's 

Ability to Turn Back the Clock

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

New York Giants

vs.

Dallas Cowboys

FROM

The House That Jerry Built

New York Football Giants: Dallas Cowboys Will Do Far Better Job Exploiting Absence of Olivier Vernon; I'm Concerned With Extra Load Being Placed on Snacks Harrison.

The Giants will play once again minus the services of their top pass rusher, linebacker Olivier Vernon, who will miss a second straight week with a high ankle sprain.  The Giants say he'll be ready by next week.  But history says this injury is notorious for slow healing, and sometimes responsible for hampering entire seasons.

Without him, the defense last week generated little in the way of quarterback pressure, registering one sack, and just three other QB hits.  On the ground, Leonard Fournette was having his way until sidelined by a strained hamstring.  Otherwise the Jaguars go on to rush for 137 total yards.

Sunday night the Giants face Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and a superior Dallas Cowboys offensive line.  If Week One is any indication, the Giants will have difficulty generating much, if any pressure against Dak Prescott.  But there are reasons why the Cowboys only scored eight points last week against Carolina.  Without Dez Bryant, they have no legitimate high threat receivers to speak of.  It just renders their offense more predictable.., that's all.

But it also creates a great case study into new defensive coordinator James Bettcher's creativity.  His unit allowed the Jaguars only thirteen offensive points last week.  Bettcher should be daring Dak Prescott to beat them.  If Eli Apple, Janoris Jenkins, and Curtis Riley capably handle their respective assignments, Landon Collins can then potentially help stack the box against Ezekiel Elliott, and thus allow Bettcher to sneak in an occasional blitz.

On a somewhat different note, it appeared to me last week that playing minus Olivier Vernon at some point began taking its toll on Snacks Harrison.  In that regard, I envision this week unfolding similarly.  Keep an eye on Snacks, Coach, because he's the one player I feel the defense can least afford to lose.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF GAME DAVE GETTLEMAN IS TRUSTING ELI MANNING TO CARRY THE TEAM, AND WIN.

Point directly at Big Blue's offensive shortcomings for Week One's loss against the Jaguars.  Much was, and is still being made of Ereck Flowers poor performance.  When truth be told, the entire line played a flawed and inept brand of football.  Nate Solder was the first to admit that.  All told, the Giants rush 23 times for 114 total yards, but subtract Saquon Barkley's 68-yard romp, and the Giants rush 22 times for just 46 yards.  And if we're pointing fingers, the left side of the line (not the right) proved least effective.  The unit as a whole allowed two sacks and six more QB hits.

It seems Saquon Barkley's role is yet to be defined.  Last week he rushed 18 times with only two receptions, which is contrary to what many anticipated.  I would argue this week calls for 25 rushes of smash mouth type football.  After which I'm sure he'll be making many more receptions out of the backfield in the weeks to come.  In the meantime, Dallas is sure to test his abilities at reacting to an NFL blitz.

However, most problematic of all was last week's disconnect between Eli Manning and his receivers.
Eli's naysayers say elite quarterbacks find ways of carrying entire teams to victory regardless of the talent level surrounding them.  This week, that couldn't ring more true.  Getting open against Jacksonville was not necessarily a problem for Odell Beckham, Sterling Sherpard, or Evan Engram.  But timing and accuracy were.  I might be an Eli apologist without realizing it.  But even I'll admit this is Eli's game to either win or lose all by himself.  If he and his receivers clean up their act, the Giants should get out of Dallas with hard fought, well earned victory, and allow fans to breathe a little sigh of relief.

Or not ...

N.Y. Giants: Ben McAdoo Breaks Out The Pom-Poms

from the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

Giants Are Double-Digit Underdogs At Home

Oh, The Shame!

SUNDAY

Kansas City Chiefs

vs.

New York Giants

New York Giants: Coach McAdoo Says Come Out To Met Life Stadium To Watch A Great Show; We Plan On Playing Great Football On Sunday And Getting A Win.

The man sounds delusional, but I'll play along and talk strategy for the hell of it.

The New England Patriots defense actually leads the NFL in most yards allowed per game.  However, you can chalk much of that on a poor start during their first four games of the season.  Since then, they've clamped down, limiting their opposition to just 13 ppg over their last five games.

Second on the list are the Giants, having allowed an average of 400.3 yards per game.  No wonder there.  Suspensions in the secondary, injuries to the defensive line and linebackers, and overall poor play speak for themselves.

Fourth on the list are the Indianapolis Colts.  They're just terrible.

Surprisingly sandwiched in at number three on the list are the Kansas City Chiefs.  They've allowed an average of 390.3 yards per game, and like the Giants, have surrendered an average of 6.0 yards per play!  I know losing safety Eric Berry hurt them.  But I'm nevertheless surprised that K.C. is the only division leader (of eight) to have surrendered more than 200 points so far.

Once upon a time, that would have been welcome news for the old smash mouth Giants of yore.

But without Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh, the offensive line isn't likely to be creating much daylight.  D.J. Fluker is also dealing with a barking knee and has only engaged in limited practice.  Whatever Orleans Darkwa gains will be won through his own individual efforts.

Shane Vereen has become a non-entity. And the back-up receivers are still not up to snuff, at which point, it becomes easier for the Chiefs to eliminate either tight end Evan Engram or Rhett Ellison.  That being said, don't count on much pass protection for Eli Manning.  I counted on numerous occasions how the 49ers were on Eli Manning in three seconds flat. 

But you know what they say about any given Sunday.  If the Giants can put together a respectable offensive effort, the Chiefs defense just might be willing to oblige.

Giants fans can only hope Coach McAdoo's ploy to view last week's game film in front of the whole team works out.  Although that seemed directed at the defensive side of the ball, perhaps most players will indeed have become embarrassed enough into putting forth better performances this week.

This big money defense still has big problems. 

Landon Collins, DRC, Eli Apple, and Janoris Jenkins, all need to redeem themselves, and do a little bit of growing up as well.  Linebacker B.J. Goodson is out this week, and upon returning from his injury Jonathan Casillas still appeared a step behind the competition last week.  Snacks Harrison is dealing with a bum ankle, while JPP is still being hampered by a disagreeable knee.  At least Olivier Vernon has played well since returning from injury, but he can't stop Alex Smith and tight end Travis Keice by himself.

Who is going to step up?

John Mara and Robert Tisch have spoken.  The Giants will finish out the season with Ben McAdoo as head coach, and Jerry Reese as general manager.

I agree with them.  Don't change a thing. 

As if life on the hot seat wasn't making McAdoo sweat already, he will most certainly be judged all game against Kansas City head coach Andy Reid.  Be sure ownership will be watching this particular match-up very closely.

Let McAdoo and Reese own this (and increase our odds for securing a high draft pick).  Besides, adversity reveals character.  We are beginning to learn which players are committed to playing the game, and which chose to comport themselves in a professional manner, versus those more willing to just go through the motions, and focusing on self-serving interests.

N.Y. Giants: New Big Blue Defense Faces First Real Test

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

2016

HOME OPENER

New Orleans Saints

vs.

New York Giants

FROM

The Swamps of East Rutherford

New York Football Giants: The Spotlight Will Be Shining Brightly on Jerry Reese's Expensive Defensive Pieces as Drew Brees and the Saints Come Marching In for Big Blue's Home Opener.

Despite Big Blue limiting Dallas to 19 points, possessing the ball for a mere 23:17 on offense against the New Orleans Saints simply will not do.  That's exactly how long the Giants held the ball last Sunday against the Cowboys, who ran 21 more offensive plays.

Minus Tony Romo, Dallas' major shortcomings occurred in the red zone with backup quarterback Dak Prescott taking snaps.  Questionable football acumen on the part of a certain Cowboys receiver on the game's final play is another reason to ponder Big Blue's week one victory.

Now the Saints come marching in to MetLife Stadium.

If you recall (or chose not to) it was the Saints edging out the Giants last season on a late field goal for a head-shaking 52-49 victory in New Orleans.  Drew Brees threw for (39 of 50) 505 yards and seven touchdowns.  All the while, the Saints still incorporated more running plays than the Giants.

That's absurd!

Giving the ball to Drew Brees for nearly 37:00 minutes is clearly begging for trouble.  Therefore, part and parcel to defending against Brees is keeping him on the sidelines.  That means employing yet another balanced offensive attack.

The strength of the Giants offense is obviously Eli connecting with OBJ and Cruz.  But they need to run ball just as they did in the fourth quarter against Dallas ... with power ... in order to exert a greater measure of control over the clock.

Even more absurd regarding last year's loss to the Saints, was the Giants managing no sacks, and registering an inconsequential three quarterback hits.

In 2015 the Giants defense allowed 400+points for a second straight season prompting beleaguered general manager Jerry Reese into spending huge sums of money during the off-season on available free agents.

The Giants require efficiency on both sides of the ball in order to get this done.  But all eyes, particularly those of Jerry Reese, owner John Mara, and every fan in attendance Sunday, will be on the defense.

After a tune-up against Dallas, this revamped unit will undergo its first real test of the 2016 season.   They must somehow disrupt Drew Brees yet still be very mindful of a very effective New Orleans running game.

Devon Kennard still leads a suspect group of linebackers.  Coach Spags need to be able to rely on at least two of them in order to maximize his blitz packages, otherwise they'll lack teeth.  Drew Brees will no doubt try crossing up Landon Collins and Craig Dahl, but free agent Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rogers Cromartie give the Giants a very strong tandem at corner back.  That in turn, could and should help the boys up front get to the quarterback.

There was no mistaking Jerry Reese's true off-season priority lay in the front four.  The re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul, along with new free agent line mates Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison, and even the returning Cullen Jenkins (cut by Washington), must now all live up to their half of the deal,

... or the general manager gets it.